Sandile is a short, quadrupedal Pokémon with a long snout and tail. Its body is mostly light brown with the exception of black stripes crossing over and under its legs and its pink underbelly. It has a black stripe on its snout in front of its eyes, and black covering the tip of its tail. Its eyes resemble shaded binoculars and are shrouded in black all around their front. The black is a membrane that prevents sand from getting in Sandile's eyes and helps it see in the harsh desert sun. Its long snout is tipped by two protruding nostrils, and its mouth comprises the bottom half. Its feet are flat and contain three sharp, black claws. They are attached to stubby legs on its sides.
Sandile is only found in deserts, with the exception of Alola, where the warm environment is comfortable enough for them to appear elsewhere. Sandile preys on Trapinch. It usually burrows under the surface, with only its nose and eyes above the sand. Due to being so close to the surface, it can move around the desert and allow the heat of the sand to regulate its body temperature. This also serves as a way of hiding from enemies. When the sun sets, it burrows deep into the sand to sleep until sunrise. As seen in the anime, in the wild, Sandile can be mischievous and potentially troublesome to humans. However, Sandile will protect another of its species, and can be caring at times. Sandile is not very good at hunting down prey, thus it mostly eats anything that collapses in the desert or walks near it, hence known as the "Cleaner of the Desert".
Major appearances
A Sandile wearing sunglasses debuted in A Sandile Gusher of Change!, thus also marking the species' debut. In Dancing With the Ducklett Trio!, he evolved into a Krokorok. He was eventually caught by Ash in Battling the Bully!. Later, in Ash, Iris and Trip: Then There Were Three!, he evolved into a Krookodile during a battle against Iris's Dragonite.
Other
In A Sandile Gusher of Change!, the Sunglasses Sandile led multiple other Sandile, which in turn were trying to lead a group of other Pokémon to safety.
Minor appearances
A Trainer's Sandile appeared in Dreams by the Yard Full!.
In A Connoisseur's Revenge!, a Trainer's Sandile was at a Poké Mart near Castelia City.
In Iris and Excadrill Against the Dragon Buster!, Iris's flashback featured a Trainer's Sandile.
A Sandile appeared in Crisis from the Underground Up!.
Multiple Sandile appeared in Lost at the Stamp Rally!.
Multiple Sandile appeared in Ash Versus the Champion!.
A Sandile appeared in a flashback in A Maractus Musical!.
A Sandile appeared in The Mighty Accelguard to the Rescue!, under the ownership of a shopper at the Driftveil Market.
A Trainer's Sandile appeared in Cilan Takes Flight!.
A Trainer's Sandile appeared in Climbing the Tower of Success!.
A Sandile appeared in Crisis at Ferroseed Research!.
A Sandile appeared in Rocking the Virbank Gym! Part 1.
Multiple Sandile appeared in All for the Love of Meloetta!.
In A Village Homecoming!, the elder's flashback featured a Sandile.
A Trainer's Sandile appeared in Curtain Up, Unova League!.
In Mission: Defeat Your Rival!, Antonio's Sandile was present during the Vertress Conference.
A Trainer's Sandile appeared in Team Plasma's Pokémon Power Plot!.
A Sandile appeared in a fantasy or a flashback in The Journalist from Another Region!.
In Summer of Discovery!, Foggy Pokémon Orienteering!, and Battling Into the Hall of Fame!, a Trainer's Sandile attended the Pokémon Summer Camp. Another Trainer's Sandile also appeared in a fantasy in the latter episode.
A Trainer's Sandile appeared in Alola to New Adventure!.
In Deceiving Appearances!, multiple Sandile were seen at Aether Paradise. They reappeared in Don't Ignore the Small Stufful!.
In Some Kind of Laziness!, a Sandile was walking through the Ruins of Abundance.
In Securing the Future!, a Trainer's Sandile joined the rest of Alola in showering Necrozma with light so it could return to its normal form.
In Battle Royal 151!, a Trainer's Sandile competed in the Battle Royal preliminary round of the Manalo Conference but ended up losing.
In The Battlefield of Truth and Love!, a Trainer's Sandile was seen at Manalo Stadium.
In Raid Battle in The Ruins!, a Sandile was living at the Colossus Ruins in the Desert Resort. It was caught by Goh after being defeated by his Scorbunny. It has since made further appearances in Pokémon Journeys: The Series.
Pokédex entries
Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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BW003
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Sandile
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Ash's Pokédex
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Sandile, the Desert Croc Pokémon. A dark membrane protects its eyes from the sun, and it buries itself in the sand with its eyes and nose sticking out.
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Episode
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Pokémon
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Source
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Entry
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JN014
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Sandile
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Goh's Rotom Phone
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Sandile, the Desert Croc Pokémon. A Ground and Dark type. Sandile digs into the hot desert sands to keep from losing heat. It lives most of its life in hiding.
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